MCSO: Killing of ex-boyfriend on car hood was justified

Monday

Feb 18, 2013 at 1:07 PM

The Sheriff's Office announced Monday that Nikki McNeil will not be charged in the shooting death of her estranged boyfriend.

Staff report

The Sheriff's Office announced Monday that Nikki McNeil will not be charged in the shooting death of her estranged boyfriend, who had clung to the hood of her car during 10-mile drive in Marion County last month.

"After a review of the facts and circumstances of this case with the State Attorney’s Office, it was determined the shooting of (Lamark) Tucker was legally justified and therefore no charges will be filed," a Sheriff's Office news release states.

McNeil, 33, shot and killed Tucker, 36, through the windshield of her car on Jan. 26 while the car was traveling on County Road 329 in the Flemington area.

She had gone to his house in the Concordia Park subdivision on Northwest 10th Avenue that evening to drop off their three children. Tucker became angry and took her car keys.

But McNeil used a spare key to start the car and drive away, according to the Sheriff's Office. Tucker jumped on the hood, screaming he would kill her. He clung there, even though McNeil stopped repeatedly and asked him to get off, and asked other people to call 911.

Tucker moved over to the driver's side of the hood, blocking her view, according to the Sheriff's Office. McNeil then got an unloaded gun from the glove compartment, loaded the gun and begged Tucker to get off the car.

She told detectives Tucker took something out of a pocket.

"She believed he was about to hit the windshield with the object, so she fired one shot at Tucker through the windshield," according to the Sheriff's Office report on the case.